Dr Brian Molloy (left), of the Riccarton Bush Trust Board, outlines recent developments at Riccarton Bush. Also pictured are (from left) bush ranger John Moore, Professor Peter Ashton of Harvard University and Richard Holland of the Council Parks Unit.

Professor Peter Ashton told a gathering in Christchurch, at which the City Council book "Christchurch Naturally" was launched, that the country had "a tremendous untapped market for tourists. New Zealand is much better than the rest of the world in biodiversity. It has a great future if the resource is respected, sustained and managed."

Dr David Given, a Lincoln University Associate Professor, said there was a need for commitment, awareness and a biodiversity strategy and for that reason, he gave top marks to "Christchurch Naturally".

Christchurch and Canterbury Marketing chief executive Darryll Park said the region’s biodiversity underpinned everything the company did.

Attending the function in Riccarton Bush was a group of 18 from Harvard University and the Harvard Museum of Natural History which toured the country for more than two weeks and while in Christchurch, donated $14,900 to the White-Flippered Penguin Trust.